Uploads from @alexnail

Leading Lines

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:32:47 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

Up at Caseg Fraith most of the easterly facing slopes lacked interesting textures in the snow, the more I looked, the less I found. I decided that since I could see sunlight below that the best course of action was to head a little way down from where I was. Shortly after I stumbled upon a foreground of my dreams! With some nice cumulus drifting across Tryfan in the background it was the perfect way to finish our trip.

Windblown

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:10:28 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

It was bitterly cold up on Glyder Fach for sunset and it only got colder as the sun went down. Strong gusts of wind occasionally whipped up loose lying snow which caught the sun as it drifted off the edge. This was another attempt to do something different at Castell y Gwynt (on the left), giving up classic shots which I had shot before in favour of a challenge! Obviously the foreground helped big time!

Tryfan Panorama

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:52:41 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

This image was taken on our second and final morning in Snowdonia. This is looking across to Tryfan from Caseg Fraith. I must admit that this light was a little unexpected, the cloud suddenly vanished and I had an excellent view. I took this panorama almost immediately and so the light is a little warmer than the images I captured later. Pink and blue are such a great colour combination.

Staple Tor Spectacle

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:49:23 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

One of the best aspects Great Staple Tor has to offer and finally the light to justify shooting it. The rock formations of Staple Tor make it my favourite tor, I just wish it was further from the road so that it wasnt everyone elses favourite!

Meringue

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:16:28 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

Finding sunlit snow formations was quite a difficult task. The easterly wind had ensured that it was mostly level or wet facing slopes that had interesting foregrounds. With a bit of hunting I found something worth capturing. The light only lasted a moment but it was sufficient to make this image looking across to Y Foel Goch.

Incoming Tide

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:50:13 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

I have many shots from this trip but the simplicity of this shot (in the face of my increasingly expansive style) makes it one of my favorites. With the snow lit by the fast approaching dawn to the east and the western sky still in darkness there was a strong tonal contrast to work with. The clouds drifting around the moon broke up the sky with the moon itself providing the crucial focal point. The ripples in the snow created the effect of lapping waves which, I think, works particularly well in bringing a sense of motion to the image.

www.facebook.com/Alex.Nail.Photography

www.alexnail.com/latest/incoming-tide/

Contours in Blue

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:02:17 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

Twenty minutes before sunrise the blue glow of twilight gave form to the stunning patterns of snow formed by the wind. The easterly wind had produced easterly facing contours in the snow, with the sun rising in the same direction the light could not have been more perfect. This shot was taken about 20 meters from our campsite at Caseg Fraith. Tryfan can be seen in the background.

Sastrugi

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:13:45 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

Foel Goch gives great views across to Glyder Fach and Tryfan. We only just got here in time after setting up 'basecamp' at Caseg Fraith. In fact we ended up chasing the setting sun up, running uphill in up to 12 inches of snow showed just how unfit I was. This was to be a view I would photograph again and again over the 48 hours we were on the Glyder ridge.
Sastrugi is the name given to formations of wind-blown snow and there was certainly no shortage on leeward slopes. On the windward eastern slopes there was plenty of snow around too, but also a lot of ice, which was much easier to walk on

www.facebook.com/Alex.Nail.Photography

Assynt

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:59:05 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Amongst all Scotland's mountain landscapes Assynt is the most unique. Its small, isolated peaks surrounded by uncountable lochs and lochans make it a haven for landscape photography and one of my favourite places.

This shot taken from the top of Stac Pollaidh, the areas most accessible peak, shows the full expanse of the area. From the left are Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor, Cul Beag and Ben Mor Coigach (which is actually in Coigach, not Assynt). Stac Pollaidh is perhaps the most characterful of all the peaks with fascinating rock formations all over the summit. At around 550m it is also one of the smallest peaks in Assynt yet it enjoys some of the best views over the region.

As this fabulous sunrise developed I was drawn into shooting a massive panorama of the area (as I have often done in the past). In my hurry to capture the scene I ended up with a composition that feels a little unresolved, but I simply didn’t have time to come up with an alternative. Although the structure of the image is a little lacking it does at least succeed in describing the scene in all its glory.

www.alexnail.com/scotland/assynt-expanse/

Sunrise over Cul Beag

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:13:04 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Once the pink sky of dawn had passed I felt like the mornings light was in all likelihood over, but I hung around in no particular hurry to get off the hill. As the sun rose over Cul Beag it hit a gap in the cloud producing a brief burst of light. Stac Pollaidh has a bewildering array of potential compositions and it's hard to make sense of it all but hopefully this one works.

Briseadh-Latha

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:01:30 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

We camped out on Stac Pollaidh on our fourth night of our trip to Assynt. During the day we had more strong winds and flat grey skies, but at least it didn't rain. The night was actually quite pleasant, the air was much drier which made it much warmer than the damp tent we had for the first couple of nights. Having been let down by the weather in the previous 3 days we were pinning our hopes on the following day, which was forecast to be clear. We got up through the night to see the sky in various states of clarity, but come the morning the sky had almost completely clouded over. A barely perceptible pink glow about 40 minutes before sunrise had us racing up the remaining meters to the peak. It wasn't long before light was racing across the cirrus above, finally rewarding us for 'sticking it out' when it was so tempting to go home.

Loch Bad a' Ghaill

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:50:45 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Two days into our trip to Assynt, Guy and I had spent most of our time in our tent sheltering from the wind under flat grey skies despite the promising forecast at the outset. On the afternoon of the second day with the wind picking up we packed up our tent on Cul Mor to check into a B&B to warm up and recouperate. Once lower down and out of the cloud the sky broke up a little. We tried to make the most of the fleeting light and strong winds at the shores of Loch Bad a' Ghaill where small waves were crashing over the shore. The iconic profile of Stac Pollaidh can be seen in the background. It was scant reward for two days and two nights with nothing to see or photograph, but we took it gladly. It was also nice to think of the hot shower that awaited us at Ullapool!

Snowdon

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:56:57 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Snowdon, at 1080m, is the highest mountain in the British Isles outside of Scotland. Snowdon is to the right of the image and opposite on the left is Garnedd Ugain, a peak just 20m lower than Snowdon itself. Below are the lakes Glaslyn and Lynn Lydaw with the impressive Lliwedd ridge in the distance which we had walked the day before. The ridge in front and to the left form a horseshoe which provides not only excellent photographic opportunities but also an outstanding mountain route. Our camp location can be seen just beneath Y Lliwedd

In 2004, when I was 16, my Dad took my brother and me up our first mountains; first Cadair Idris and then Snowdon. I had recently bought my first camera, a 2MP Canon A40, which came along for the ride. Although the images were snapshots one photo has stayed with me since, a view quite similar to this looking down over Glaslyn and Lynn Lydaw and across to Snowdon and Y Lliwedd. My photography has progressed since then and for a long time it has been in the back of my mind to return to Snowdon in the winter to photograph the sunrise over the Snowdon Horseshoe.

We got up at 5am to force ourselves out of our warm sleeping bags and into the cold. Fortunately the wind had all but vanished and once we were moving we were warm enough. After packing up we headed off in the dark to the summit of Snowdon, an easyish 200m climb from where we had slept. We were on the summit an hour before sunrise and whilst Guy stayed to take his photos from the top I descended slightly to the saddle between Snowdon and Garnedd Ugain from where I had taken the first image 9 years previously. A gap on the horizon in the direction of sunrise was a clear indication that I was going to get some brief but wonderful light. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to arrange my composition, setting up my camera and making sure everything was perfect. When the light came I went through a methodical process of shooting the panorama over and over to ensure I had captured the best light. Once I was satisfied I ran down the slope to a different composition but the light had gone. As we walked off Snowdon back to the car the clouds came in again bringing the weather full circle. In all we only had 20 minutes of sunlight in Snowdonia, but it came at just the right time!

www.alexnail.com/snowdonia/snowdon-view/

Pass of the Arrows

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:25:11 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Just above Cribau and leading up to Snowdon is 'Bwlch y Saethau', 'Pass of the Arrows', our route of ascent to the top of Snowdon the following morning (fortunately a relatively easy one!). As the sun came down the clouds picked up a warm glow which reflected on the ice. I photographed the pool in a number of ways as the light changed, each is different, but I think this is my favourite. These pastel shades are amongst my favourite colours to photograph and the combination of blues, pinks and purples are unique to the winter (one of many reasons why winter is my favourite season).
Like several locations in the UK, Snowdon is strongly associated with the Arthurian legend. 'Bwlch y Saethau' is said to be the place where he was shot dead and buried.
Balancing realism and visual impact is a constant challenge for landscape photographers. I exposure bracketed this scene and the darkest exposure set shows deep red clouds. Rather than use these more colourful exposures I kept the sky as bright as possible to create a more tonally balanced scene of a narrower dynamic range. On other occasions I might have decided that the atmosphere was lost, and tried to use a darker sky, but this time it seemed right. This is part of landscape photography that few non-photographers understand and is rarely discussed for fear of upset. On one hand our cameras are hopelessly incapable of capturing what we saw making processing entirely necessary. On the other hand processing is used to create fantasy scenes never seen in real life (which draw the most attention on social networks encouraging the practice). With so many photographers around now it's unsurprising that you get a full spectrum of opinions.
www.alexnail.com/latest/snowdon-pass/

Cribau

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:03:28 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Some of my images are meticulously planned, others are a result of circumstance. Guy and I had intended to go to the summit of Snowdon for sunset, but with cloud enveloping us there seemed to be little prospect of any light that evening. We had decided before heading out to camp at 'Cribau' just below 'Bwlch y Saethau', so that the summit was an easy climb away (200m or so). As sunset approached the clouds parted momentarily and we were treated to a few minutes of sunlight. With no time to head to a higher viewpoint I made do with my immediate surroundings. Although planned images provide the most satisfaction, working to make the most of an unexpected burst of light is certainly more exciting

A Place to Call Home

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:53:31 -0800

@alexnail posted a photo:

Home for the night at 800m, not far below Snowdon's summit, which was the morning's task. Our walk up to this point was shrowded in mist and, in sub zero temperatures, it coated the grasses in a fine white ice. We actually didnt bring enough water with us, so we cooked our dinner in water from the pool!

www.alexnail.com/snowdonia/snowdon-blue-white/

Lofoten

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 11:10:51 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

The Lofoten Islands offer some of the best mountain scenery and hiking in the world. The going is tough, it has to be said, but the rewards are worth it.

I've only just got around to editing this expansive view. Previously I have submitted snippets of it. The composition isnt ideal, I would have loved to have reduced that scree in the foreground, but hopefully the massive scale makes up for it!

Full portfolio at my website: Alex Nail Photography
Follow me: www.facebook.com/Alex.Nail.Photography and twitter.com/alexnail

Hatfell

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:33:00 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

Hatfell is an extinct volcano in the south west highlands of Iceland surrounded by volcanic plains of black sand. Behind you can see the glaciated volcano Eyjafjallajökull, generating clouds as the wind blows in from the west at sunset.

Full portfolio at my website: Alex Nail Photography
Follow me: www.facebook.com/Alex.Nail.Photography and twitter.com/alexnail

The Ridge, Lofoten

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 11:09:33 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

This was probably one of the best skies and views we had in Lofoten. Emma was game for more hiking once we had set up our tent on the ridge (the tent is just visible in the full resolution version of this photograph). We scrambled our way up to a rarely visited peak below Mengelsdalstinden. Our hike the following day to the lake Stokkvikvatnet below and out to the coast was wonderful although once again the path left a lot to be desired. To the right you can see Agvatnet which I photographed many times during our stay on the ridge.

Full portfolio at my website: Alex Nail Photography
Follow me: www.facebook.com/Alex.Nail.Photography and twitter.com/alexnail

Kvalvika Beach

nobody@flickr.com (@alexnail) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:12:01 -0700

@alexnail posted a photo:

The hike up to Ryten from our camping spot next to the pool you can see on the left of the image was relatively easy. A lack of sleep from watching the aurora overnight made it a little more tiring than it might have been!The view over Kvalvika beach below and the peaks of Kjerringa and Moltinden above was one of the best of the trip. I love colour and to see such a wide range of vivid colours on display was fantastic.

Full portfolio at my website: Alex Nail Photography
Follow me: www.facebook.com/Alex.Nail.Photography and twitter.com/alexnail